Latch mechanism



June 1, 1954 v MARPLE 2,680,037

' LATCH MECHANISM Filed July l5,- 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. )7aZZa fifar vle.

BY W 7%,,

June 1, 1954 R. MARPLE 2,680,037

LATCH MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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June 1, 1954' R. MARPLE 2,680,037

LATCH MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 1, 1954 R. MARPLE 2,680,037

LATCH MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 )ZaZ/a firyze.

4 BY m f June 1954 R. MARPLE 2,680,037

LATCH MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1948 e Sheets-Sheet 5 y I N V EN TOR. FaZ/a fifaryl June 1, 1954 R. MARPLE 2,680,037

LATCH MECHANISM Filed July 15, 1.948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. FaZZo W'ar Zc Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCH MECHANISM Rollo Marple, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Hancock Manufacturing Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 15, 1948, Serial No. 38,821

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to latching devices for closures, and in particular provides an improved latch construction for vehicle doors. In certain of its aspects the present invention provides improvements upon and modifications of the structures disclosed. and claimed in applicants United States Patent Nos. 2,195,179, 2,301,558, and 2,301,560.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an improved latch of the above generally indicated character, particularly adapted for, but not limited to, use in connection with vehicle doors, characterized as being simple in construction, economical of manufacture and extremely durable and efiicient in operation; to provide a latch of the rotary bolt type embodying an improved actuating connection between the inside and outside door-operating handle and bolt-actuating means; to provide such a connection which may be operated by a reciprocatable as contrasted to a rotatable movement; to provide a latch of the rotary bolt type embodying improved means operable from within the vehicle for locking the outside handle against actuation; to provide improved means actuated by the bolt for releasing the locking means; to provide a door latch embodying means for supporting a bolt in relation to the latch casing and for also supporting the link actuated by the outside latch handle for operating the bolt; to provide a casing member having a base and a fiange and providing for the link actuated by the outside door handle to be carried by the flange; and, to generally improve the construction and operation of vehicle door latches.

With the above as well as other objects in view, which appear in the following description and in the appended claims, a preferred but illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating the application of the invention to automobile doors;

Fig- 2 is a view in transverse section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the interrelation between the bolt and keeper;

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts in a locked position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a modified form of latch;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to F g. 4 but showing the latch illustrated in Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing another form of latch.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the form of latch of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the form of latch of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing a still further modified form of latch;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing still another form of latch;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the form of latch of Figure 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but showing a still further form of latch;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing a still further modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 17 is a view taken substantially along the line l'I--ll of Fig. 16 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 6, the improved latch which is secured within the door I of the associated vehicle comprises generally a. casing member 2, a rotary bolt 4; a plurality of cams designated collectively as 6 for holding the bolt 4 against rotation in a door opening direc tion; an outside operated roll-back means, designated as a whole as 8, for releasing the cams 6 and the bolt 4 in response to movement of a squeeze-type outside door handle; and a retracting member H) which may be connected to the conventional inside door handle or the like (not shown) to release the cams 6 from operative engagement with the bolt. The keeper [2, which is described in more detail below, is suitably secured to the door pillar l4 as by means of a mounting plate 16.

The bolt'4 is rotatably journaled in the latch casing 2 upon a pin or trunnion 20. One end of the pin 20 is supported in the flange 22 of a housing 24 which is suitably secured as by welding to the flange 26 of the previously identified casing 2. The other end of the pin 20 is supported in a deck 28 which is suitably secured to the inner face of the flange 26. The bolt 4 is formed to provide a keeper-engaging portion 30 which projects externally of the lock casing 2 for co-operation with the keeper 12, an inner camengaging portion 32 and a separating fin or vane 34 which is somewhat larger in diameter than the portions 30 and 32 and serves to substantially close the opening 35 which is provided in the flange 26 of the casing 2 to accommodate the bolt 4. The lower half of the outwardly projecting portion 30 of the bolt 4 is substantially enclosed by the previously mentioned housing 24 which is given a substantially semicylindrical form for this purpose.

As most clearly appears in Fig. 4, the outer portion 30 of the bolt 4 is formed to provide a plurality of radially extending equiangular spaced keeper-engaging teeth or projections 30a, any one of which is eifective, as described hereinafter, to co-operate with the safety catch 40 associated with keeper or the keeper portion 42 to hold the door in either the partially closed or safety position, or in the fully closed position, respectively. It will be appreciated that the angular spacing between the projections or teeth 30a relative to the spacing between the safety catch 40 and the keeper portion 42 is such that the bolt 4' can roll over or cross the keeper in a manner similar to the co-operation between a gear and a rack.

As most clearly appears in Fig. 4, the inner portion 32 of the bolt 4 is formed to provide a number of dog-engaging teeth or projections 32a, the number and angular spacing between which corresponds to the number and angular spacing of the keeper-engaging teeth 30a. The teeth 320., however, are angularly displaced from the teeth 30a. This relation results in reducing the space requirement for the lock since the positioning of the cam can thus be determined independently of the rotated position of the teeth 30a. Each tooth 32a is formed to provide a generally radially extending cam-engaging portion 4 4 anda locking portion 46, the purpose whereof is described hereinafter.

The cams 6 are provided to co-operate with the latching portion 46 of the bolt 4 to hold the bolt 4 against rotation in a counterclockwise or dooropening direction as viewed in Fig. 4. It is preferred to utilize a plurality of such cams of progressively increasing length to provide a takeup action for the latch as hereinafter described. In the present instance three cams are illustrated although a smaller or larger number may be utilized if desired.

Three cams, designated as a whole at B, are

rotatably supported in the lock casing upon a pinion or trunnion a which extends parallel to but is spaced from the previously mentioned pin 20. The outer end of the pin *50 is supported in the outwardly extending body portion of a member 52 suitably secured to the casing flange 26 and which serves, as most clearly appears in Figs. 3 and 5, as a dovetail member. The inner end of the pin 50 is supported in the previously mentioned supplemental casing or deck member 28. Each of the three cams, which are individually designated as 56, 58, and 60, includes a downwardly extending body which terminates in a laterally offset foot. The cam 56 is slightly longer than the cam 58 and the cam 58, in turn is slightly longer than the cam 60. Each of the cams 56, 58, and 60 is provided with a biasing spring 62 individual thereto. One end of each spring is secured between a pair of lugs 64 which are in-' wardly struck from the casing flange 2B and the free end of each spring 62 bears against edge of the associated cam' and so continuously urges it in a clockwise or looking direction as viewed in Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the keeper l2 comprises a body which may be and preferably is formed of a relatively heavy metal stamping formed to define the previously mentioned boltengaging surface 42. The safety catch is and may be formed of a die casting or the like and is pivotally supported by a pin 78 which extends between and is supported in the opposite side walls of the keeper 12. A spring 72 is connected between the catch 40 and the keeper body and continuously urges the safety catch to the active position shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the otherwise continuous body of the keeper I2 is cut away, as indicated at i l, to afford a slot or opening through which the safety catch 40 may move from the active position, shown in Fig. 3, to a retired position. It will also be noted that the back of the safety catch 40 abuts the portion 15 of the body of the keeper [2 so that such portion 15 forms a limit stop to the rotation thereof under the influence of the spring 12. Also as clearly appears in Fig. 3 when the door is in a closed position the keeper I2 is in a position between the rotary bolt 4 and the previously mentioned dovetailed member 52, the upper surface of the keeper 12 as well as the under surface of the dovetailed member 52 is downwardly inclined in the direction of the doorclosing movement. With this relation the dovetailed member tends to serve as a stop to the movement of the keeper [2 in the leftward or door-closing directionas influenced by the bolt 4. The members 4, l2, and 52 accordingly function in accordance with the functioning of the usual separately formed dovetails usually associated with locks of the conventional slidable bolt type and permits such separate dovetail structure to be dispensed with.

As the door I is closed, the keeper-engaging portion of the bolt engages the safety catch 40 rotating it in a clockwise direction out of path of movement of the portion 30 which, upon further closing movement of the door I, engages a sloping face 76 of the keeper l2 whereby further closing movement of the door I applies a positive rotating force to the bolt 4. Further door-closing movement is effective to rotate the bolt 4 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, thereby rotating the cams 58, 58, and 60 in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4. When the door reaches a substantially closed position, the heel of the shorter cam 60 rides up over the rounded end of the cam-engaging bolt face 32a. As soon as this action takes place the spring 62 associated with the cam becomes effected to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4, and forcibly continues the rotation of the bolt 4 in a clockwise or door-closing direction. At slightly spaced stages in the continued doorclosing movement, the bolt face 32a successively passes beyond the heels of the cams 58 and 56 rendering the springs 62 associated with these cams successively effective to continue the clockwise or door-closing rotation of the bolt 4.

It will be appreciated that at any stage of the door-closing movement at which the inner bolt face 32a passes beyond the heel of a selected cam rendering such cam. effective to assume position, as shown in Fig. 4, such cam becomes effective to prevent a counterclockwise or door-opening movement of the bolt 4. In such instance any tendency of the bolt to rotate in a counterclockwise direction applies a substantial radial force to the particularcam. The parts are preferably so adjusted that the shorter cam reaches the just mentioned blocking position as an incident to each door-closing movement. Accordingly even though the vehicle door is only very lightly closed, a positive lock is applied to the door. With the cam 60 in a blocking position, the two longer cams 58 and 56 occupy positions in which the springs 62, associated therewith, are still effective to continuously urge the bolt 4 in a clockwise or door-closing direction. In addition to being positivelyheld against an opening movement accordingly, the door is continuously urged to a door-closed position. v

In certain instances it may be found that forces of the springs 62 acting upon the associated longer cams 56 and 58 will be eifective to cause the doorclosing movement to continue to a point at which the intermediate cam 55 is in the blocking position. In other instances where the resistance to further door-closing movement is sufiicient to prevent such continued movement, it is found that the road shocks or the like cause the door to momentarily move inwardly a slight amount relative to the vehicle body. Any such inward movement immediately relieves the otherwise existing resistance to continue clockwise movement of the bolt 4 and is immediately taken up by movement of the intermediate cam 58 or the final cam 56 to a blocking position.

It will be seen accordingly that the several cams-being of slightly different lengths assume the blocking positions thereof at different substantially closed positions of the door and that a minimum expectant closing force of the door is suflicient to render at least the shortest cam 60 effective to reach the blocking position, leaving the remaining cams effective to take up any additional closing movement.

Due to the fact that the bolt holding effects of the cams designated collectively as 6 result from the co-operation between the feet thereof and the bolt faces and not from the strength of the biasing springs 52, it is possible to utilize springs 62 which are relatively weak whereby a minimum of door-closing force is required to render the door in tightly closed position.

The outside roll back, designated as a whole at 8, embodies an improved arrangement which is susceptible of general application but finds particular utility when utilized in connection with a lock of the present character. In the illustrated instance the outside roll back 8 comprises a lever I which is pivotally mounted on pin which is carried by the flange 26 of the casing 2. The lever I has an upturned flange or ear I I which is engaged by the actuating portion I3 of the outside door handle. A pin I5 is carried by the flange 26 and projects through an arcuately shaped aperture 31 in the lever I for limiting rotational movement thereof about its pivot pin 0. A nose 2I of the lever I overlies and-is en-.

g ageable with a lip I00 of a slide I02 carried by the base IOI of the casing 2. The slide I52 has an elongated aperture I04 which receives a pin I06 carried by the base IN and which guides the upper end portion of the slide I02 for reciproto the movement of the cam 60, as influenced by the just-mentioned foot IIB, the cam 60 is provided with a laterally turned portion II8 which extends around and behind the rear edges of the cams 56 and 58. With the just-mentioned arrangement, it will-beappreciated thatdownwardmovement of the slide I02 will cause the cams 56, 58, and 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction whereby they are moved out of locking engagement with the cam surface 46 of the adjacent tooth 32a of the bolt 4 whereby the bolt is permitted to rotate in a counterclockwise .direction permitting the vehicle door I to be opened.

The retracting member I0 is connected with the inside door handle (not shown) through a longitudinally movable link I20. The member I0 comprises a lever I22 pivotally connected as by means of a pin I24 to the link I20. The lever i22 is pivotally supported on the base IOI of the casing 2 by means of the above-mentioned pin I06 and is provided with a nose I26 which is directly engageable with the foot II6 for rotation.

of the cams 6.

A locking lever I30a is pivotally mounted on a pin I32 carried by the base IOI of the casing 2. Pivotal movement of the lever I30a is controlled by means of rod I34 which extends upwardly through the interior of the door and outwardly through the garnished mold (not shown) .associated with the door I. The lever I30a also has a nose I36 which projects into a slot I38 in a side flange of a slide I 40. The slide I40 is guided for reciprocal movement by a pin I46 carried by the base IOI and extending through an elongated aperture I44 in the base I42 of the slide I40. A longitudinally extending side flange I48 of the slide I40 extends downwardly between the deck H2 and the adjacent surface of the base NH. The extending portion is corrugated to provide rack teeth I50 which mesh with teeth I52 of a gear segment I54 also located between the deck H2 and the base IN. The gear segment I54 is carried on a collar I56 journaled at opposite ends in the deck H2 and the base IOI which collarv is adapted to receive an actuating shaft of a keylocking mechanism (not shown) carried by the door I. The gear segment I54 is provided with a cam-locking surface I58 which, when the gear segment I54 is rotated to its counterclockwise or locked position as shown in Fig. 6, underlies the lower end of the slide I02 thereby blocking the slide I02 and preventing its downward movement to rotate the cams 6 out of locking engagement. It will be appreciated that upon rotation of the sleeve I56 in a counterclockwise direction, the gear segment I54 will be rotated to its counterclockwise position whereby the cam surface I58 will be positioned as shown in Fig. 6 and whereby the teeth I52 meshing with the teeth I50 will move the slide I40 to its upward. position.

The slide I40 is held in its upward position by means of a spring detent mechanism generally designated I60. slide I40 will be accompanied by a counterclockwise rotation of the lever I30a since the nose I36 thereof extends within the aperture I38. This counterclockwise movement of the lever I30a will.

cause downward movement of the rod I34. It

will be observed at this time that the inner doorhandle is not prevented from unlatching the bolt 4 since the inner door handle acts through the link I20 and lever I22 to rotate the foot II6 directly and does not act through the now-locked slide I02 as does the outer door handle. It will similarly be observed that slide I40 may be moved to its unlocking position either by the key station or by rod I34 independently of which of these elements may have been actuated to move it to the locked position.

The gear segment I54 may be rotated clock wise to its unlocked position by means of the be- Such. upward movement of the- 7. fore-mentioned key mechanism to the position shown in Fig. in which the surface I58 is out of the path of movement of the slide IE2. Upon actuation of the outside door handle, the outside operated rollback means 8 can move the slide 102 downwardly whereby its nose H4 engages the foot NS for movement of the cams 56, 58, and 60. Slide I02 is normally held in its upward position shown in Fig. 4 by means of a spirally coiled spring I64, one end I56 of which extends between the deck H2 and the base [ill and engages the lower end of the slide H32 and the other end of which is held between two outstrucklugs 58 of the base NH. The upper limit of movement of the slide 102 is of course determined by the pin 15 and slot 37 associated with lever l. The lever lslic is normally held in either of its two positions by means of an overcenter spring us having one end portion received within an aperture in the base [ill and the other end portion received within an aperture in the lever l3lla. Finally the inside operated lever l22 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by the usual return spring (not shown) which forms part of the inside handle mounting (not shown).

In order that the locking mechanism will kick off upon closure of the door l subsequent to the locking of the latch mechanism when the door I is open, the slide 149 is provided with a lip H2 which is positioned in the path of movement of the foot H6.

Since as above described upon a door-closing operation the cams, designated collectively as 6, are rotated in a counterclockwise direction upon closure of the door, similar to rotation thereof, by either the outside or inside door-operating handles, it will be apparent that the foot H6 will be rotated counterclockwise into engagement with the lip 72 provided on the slide 140 which rotation will move the slide downwardly into an unlocked position whereby the surface 158 is removed from its blocking position with respect to the slide 32 thereby permitting operation of the latch from the outside door handle.

The structure of Figs. '7 and 8 is functionally like that of Figs. 1 through 6 except that in Figs. 7 and 8 no key station is provided for, and the locking control, when locked, renders both the inside and outside handles ineffective. Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, the lock is carried by a casing member 2a having a base Nile and a flange 26a, a rotary bolt 4, cams 6a carried by a pin 53. A slide mid acts upon downward movement to engage a foot 6a of the cams 6a and is guided in its movement by a pin lflfia carried by the base Iilla received within an elongated aperture lll la of the slide Kim. A deck 23a is carried by and is spaced from the inside surface of the flange 26a and is substantially coextensive therewith and has an offset portion 203 which bears against the adjacent face of the slide illla for positioning it against the adjacent face of the base Hlla.

A lever la of the outside roll back is pivotally carried adjacent the underside of the deck 28a by means of the pin 9a. carried by the deck 280; and supplementarily guided by an outstruck portion 201. The lever la has a flange Ha which is adapted to be engaged by an external cam door handle (not shown) for rotating the lever la. in

a counterclockwise direction (Fig. '7). The lever Ia further has a nose 21a. which is engageable with a lip Hlfla on the lower end of the slide I020; whereby, upon movement of the lever Ia by the door handle, the slide lOEa will be moved downwardly (Fig. 7) causing its nose 411150 engage the foot H 6a for-counterclockwise rotation thereof whereby the cams M will be rotated counterclockwise out of holding engagement with the, rotary bolt 4, permitting the vehicle door 2| to be opened.

The inner door handle (not shown) acts through an intermediate linkage (not shown) to rotate the lever 122a which is carried by the pin 106a. Clockwise rotation of the lever 122a (Fig. 8) causes its nose i260; to engage the foot 6a for counterclockwise or unblooking rotation of the cams 6a whereby the rotary bolt 4 :is :released permitting the vehicle door 20 to be opened from the .inside.

The base lllla. is provided with a diagonally extending keyhole-shaped aperture which guides the movement of an inside locking cam roller 20!]. The position of the roller 20!) within the said aperture is determined by means of rod I34a which is actuatable by occupants of the motor vehicle. Upon movement to the right of the rod 134a, the roller 260' is moved downwardly along the diagonally extending aperture and into a position which is in the path of a movement of a projection 202 of the slide 102a whereby downward movement of the slide is prevented. The roller 200 in this position is also in the upward path of movement of a projection 204 of the lever 122a whereby clockwise rotation of this lever l22a is prevented. It will thus be apparent that with the roller 2!!!) in this position both the outside roll back and the inside rctracting member will be blocked and the bolt 4 cannot be released by either the outside or inside door handles. This locking movement of the cam roller 280 also engages a cam surface 205 of a lever 286. The shape of the surface 205 is such that with the roller 200 in its looking position, force applied to the nose 208 will act to move the roller cam 200 upwardly and diagonally through its cam slot to unlocked position thereby releasing the outside roll back and the inside retracting member. The roller cam 200 can be moved manually to its upward posi-- tion out of the path of movement of the cam surface 205 by manually moving the rod l34a for unlocking the latch. It will now be apparent that in the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the locking of the latch will prevent release of the bolt by either the inside or the outside handle but will be unlocked upon closing of the door if for any reason the latch is locked with the door open. Such closing of the door causes the nose I 16a, of the holding cams to bear against the nose 20.8 and swing the latter, as aforesaid.

The embodiment of Figs. 9 and 10 difiers from that of Figs. 'l-S primarily in thatin Figs. 9 and 10 the outside operated, slidable roll-back member acts directly against the bolt-holding cams instead of acting through an intermediate slide. Referring now to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the slide 1b is guided by a pair of spaced pins .300 and 306, both carried by the flange 26b of the casing 2b. The pins 300 and 306 extend into elongated slots 304 and 302 respectively of the slide lb of the roll back 81). Spring 3M biases slide 1b to the position shown.

The slide lb is also provided with a lip 308 which is engageable with a nose 3) of the cam means 6b. The cam means 6b are pivotally mounted upon a pin 50 which is carried between the dovetail member 52 and the deck 26b. The cam means 6b more specifically comprises a plurality of individual cam members or dogs 56b,

581), and b which are independently urged into camming position by means of biasing springs 02 individually thereto. One end of each of the springs 62 is secured between a pair of lugs 64 inwardly struck from the casing flange 261), while the other end of the springs engages against an edge portion of its associated cam.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, it will now be apparent that sliding of the slide 1b to the left will cause the lip 308 thereof to engage the nose 3I0 of the cam means 01) whereby the cam means 61) is rotated counterclockwise thereby releasing the foot of each of the cams 561), 581), and 001) from engagement with the rotary bolt 4 in substantially the same manner as described in connection with the other forms of this invention. The cam 001) has associated therewith a foot H01) which extends behind the rear edges of the cams 501) and 58b substantially as described in connection with the cams 56, 58, and 60.

The retracting member I01) is connected with the inside door handle (not shown) through a longitudinally movable link (not shown) pivotally connected, as by means of pin I241), to a pivotally mounted lever I201) comprising a portion of the retracting member I01). As before, the inside handle mechanism (not shown) biases lever I201) to the position shown. The lever I201) has a pair of spaced nose portions 3I2 and 3I4 which coact with the foot H01) of the cam means 6b and with a foot 3I6 of a locking slide I401). Upon clockwise rotation of the lever I201), the nose 3I2 will engage an upper surface of the foot H01) whereby the cam means 61) are rotated in a counterclockwise direction for releas ing the bolt 4. Upon movement of the inside door handle in the opposite direction, the lever I201). will rotate in a counterclockwise direction whereby the nose 3I I thereof will engage the underside of the flange 3I5 thereby moving the slide I401) upwardly causing a foot 3I8 thereof to be positioned in the path of movement of an offset rear portion 320 of the slide 'Ib whereby the slide 11) is blocked against longitudinal movement in a leftward direction (Fig. 9) for releasing the bolt 4. Therefore it will be apparent that the releasing member means I01) is operable by the inside door handle for movement in one direction to release the bolt 4 and for movement in a second direction to lock the bolt 4 against release by the outside door handle. In this modification there is no means for locking the latch against operation from the inside door handle.

The foot H61) is co-operable with the upper surface of the flange 3I6 of the slide I401) upon door-closing movement subsequent to locking of the latch with the door in the open position to kick off the lock whereby the door may be closed and the latch actuated by the outside door handle. As discussed above upon closing movement of the door the rotary bolt 4 will be rotated one tooth in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9) whereby the cam means 61) will be rotated counterclockwise, causing the foot I I61) thereof to move downwardly and engage the upper surface of the flange 3 I0 and push the slide I401) downwardly a sufficient distance so that the foot 3I8 is moved out of its blocking relation with the inner end 320 of the slide '11).

As in Figs. 1 through 6, the locking slide I401) may also be actuated by a key-actuated mechanism generally designated 322, having an actuator opening externally of the outer surface of the door .I with which thelatch is associated.

For this purpose the slide I401) is provided with a downward extension 324 which is provided with teeth 326 arranged to mesh with co-operating teeth 328 of the key-actuated mechanism 322. It is believed that it will be apparent that upon rotation of the key-actuated mechanism 322 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 10, the slide I40b will be moved upwardly into its blocking position for blocking movement of the slide 1b and consequently preventing opening of the door by means of the outside door handle. It is believed that it is also apparent that upon rotation of the key-actuated mechanism 322 in its counterclockwise direction the slide I401) will be moved downwardly out of its locking or blocking relation. In Fig. 11 the position of the slide I401) is shown in its blocking position and furthermore the lever I201) is shown in this figure in its position of engaging the slide I40b for movement to its locking position due to operation of the inside door handle. As will be evident from the form shown in Figs. 1-6, detent mechanism (not shown) may be provided for yieldingly holding the slide I401) in either of its two positions.

It will now be seen that the modification shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11 provides the latch mechanism of the rotary bolt type which may be locked externally of the motor vehicle by means of the key-actuated mechanism 322 and may also be locked internally of the motor vehicle by movement of the inside door handle in its direction opposite to that for causing release of the bolt 4 for opening of the door I from the inside of the vehicle. Since the lever I201) acts directly on the cam means 61) for releasing of the bolt 4, the position of the slide I401) does not interfere with operation of the latch by the inside door handle. The latch of this modification is also provided with a kickoff whereby,- when the latch is in locked position with the door open, closing of the door automatically unlocks the latch. It may also be seen that unlatching movement of the inside door handle, while not acting directly on the locking slide I401), will nevertheless cause it to be moved downwardly out of blocking relation with the outside door handle since the foot H01) of the cam means 01) will engage the foot 3 I6 and move it downwardly during releasing movement of the means 61). I

In Fig. 12 there is shown a modified form of latch which in general construction is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The

locking of the outside roll back is accomplished by providing a lever 400 which is piv' otally mounted on a in 402 carried by the base IOIc of the casing 20 in which the latch mechanism is carried. The lever 400 is substantially L-shaped and has a bifurcated end portion 404 which extends downwardly toward the lever I200,

upon movement of the inner door handle where- 1 by its nose 400 engages the foot I I60 of the cam means 00 whereby the cam means 00 are withdrawn from locking engagement with the rotary bolt 4. Upon movement of the inner door handle in the opposite direction the lever I200 is rotated counterclockwise whereby the lip 400 acting in the bifurcated end portion 404 of the lever 400 rotates the lever 400- in a clockwise direction The lever whereby a foot 4H) is rotated intov path of movement of the slide 7c of the outside roll back 8e, thereby rendering the latter ineffective. It will be observed that upon movement of the inner door handle in an unlatching direction the lever I2Gc will be rotated clockwise first rotating the lever 458 in a counterclockwise direction removing the foot 419 from its blocking relation with respect to the roll back 8c; and thereafter, continued clockwise rotation of the lever i200 will cause its nose 403 to engage the foot H6 for releasing the bolt 4. Lever lz'Jc is of course intended for association with a small inside handle mechanism (not shown) which is yieldingly held in either a neutral or a dogging position.

In Figs. 13 and 14 there is shown a still further modified form of latch which in general construction is quite similar to that shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. In the construction in Figs. 13 and 14, the latch is contained within a casing 2d having a flange 25d and a base Hlld; a slide 1d of the outside roll back Sr! is provided with elongated apertures see, 582 through which extend pins 584, 586 which guide the slide 111 for longitudinal movement, the pins 504 and 506 being carried by the flange 2501. A spring 508. has one end portion :8 received between a pair of outstruck ears 512 of the flange 26d. The other end of the spring 598- engages a foot 514 of the slide 1d and acts to urge the slide Id in a righthand direction (Fig. 13). The slide id is also provided with a foot 5&8 which, upon leftward longitudinal movement thereof, engages nose portions 518 of the cam means td whereby the feet thereof are moved out of the path of movement of the rotatable bolt 4. The cam means 6d comprise three cam members 56d, 58d, and 60d respectively which are proportioned similarly to the cams 56, 59, and 60, the cam. 5511 having associated therewith a foot 2 d similarly to the foot H6.

A lever 120d is pivotally mounted on the pin 524 and is adapted for actuation by an inside door-releasing handle (not shown) of the type described in connection with Figs. 1 through 6,

whereby, upon clockwise rotation of the lever I d, its nose 528 will engage the foot lifid for rotation of the cams Std, 5301, and d out of their holding relation with the rotatable bolt 4.

The slide Id has an ofiset end portion 520 into the path of movement of which a foot 522 of a locking slide Mild is movable. I-he slide [4001 is carried by pins 524 and 526 which extend through elongated slots in the slide 140d and which are carried by the base I01 d. A lever 53%! is pivotally mounted upon the pin 524 and has a nose 53.2 which is received between spaced flanges 534 and 53$ of the locking slide 140d. The lever 530 is actuated by means of a link 538, the movement of which may be controlled, as through a bell crank (not shown), by a locking button (not shown) extending upwardly through the door garnish molding. Detent mechanism as described in connection with Figs. 1 through 6 may be providedto yieldingly hold slide Med in either of its two positions. Alternatively, this holding means may be associated with the locking-button mechanism.

Upon clockwise movement of the lever 530, its nose 532 will engage the flange 536 for movement of the slide [40d downwardly whereby the. foot 522 thereof is moved out of the path of movement of the offset portion 529 of the slide Id movement of. they retracting member 8d. Counterclockwise rotation. of the lever 530 will cause: it's nose 532 to engage the flange 534 and move the slide Mild upwardly, whereby the nose 522 thereof is positioned in the path of movement of the slide 1d whereby the inward or leftward movement of the latter, as seen in Fig. 13, will beprevented, and the retracting member 803 is prevented irom suflicient movement by the outside doorhandle to cause release of the cam means (id for release of the rotatable bolt 4. It will be observed that the lever I20d acts directly on the foot 6d whereby the cam means 611 may at all times be operated by movement of the-inner door handle. As shown, the flange 534 of the slide MM is located sufiiciently downwardly so that the releasing rotation of the cam means 6d will not cause the foot Ilfid thereof to engage this flange 534 for automatic or unlocking of the movement of the slide 1480. and consequently the locks as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 do not have the socalled kickoff operation.

The modification as shown in Fig. 15 is very similar to that shown in Figs. 13 and 14 except that there is no lever corresponding to the lever 530 of Fig. 14. Instead, a finger 600 is provided on the lever l25e which extends between the flanges 434e and 436e of the slide Mile. The slide |40e also has a foot 522e movable into blocking position with an offset end portion 52 0c of an outside roll back. The dot-dash positionof the finger B00 and foot 522e shows their locked positions. The finger 500 has suflicient lost motion between the time that it engages the upper of the flanges 434a and the lower of F the flanges 43 lie so that within this range of movement, with the. slide e, in its lower or unlocked position, the lever 429s is operable to engage the foot HGe of, the cam means holding the rotary bolt 4 whereby the. cam means may bemoved out. of holding engagement with the rotary bolt 4.. Upon movement of the inner door handle in the.

opposite direction, the lever i206 will be rotated counterclockwise whereby the finger 600 engages.

the upper flange 434a whereby the slide Mlle is moved upwardly into the path. of movement In the modification shown in Figs. 16, and 17.,

the latch is carried by latch casing 2f which. is provided with a flange 26f anda base 1M1. The. bolt 4 is carried by the flange 261 in the usual manner and. is held against rotation by cam means 6) similar to cam. means 6 and which cam means 6 may be rotated to released position upon downward movement of a nose Hfif of the cam means 6), the nose 6f being rotated upon engagement therewith of a nose I03 of a rotatable lever 102 carried by a pin [54 rigid with the base I011. Pivoted on this pin 1'04 is av locking lever 765 which has a lip Hi8. movable into the path of movement of a slidable slide If forming part of the outside roll back 8 which is operated by means of the outside door handle. Positioning of the lever 796 is accomplished by means of a locking slide Mil) which may be adjustably positioned by means of a gear segment I54), which gear I541 may be rotated from the. outside ofthevehicle by means. of a key. Clock- Wise. rotation of: thegear segment 54f serves to move the slide I40 upwardly thereby rotating the lever I06 in a counterclockwise direction and moving the lip I08 thereof into the path of movement of the roll back 8f. Counterclockwise rotation of the gear segment I54 will act likewise to rotate the lever I06 into the position shown in Fig. 17 in which the lip 108 thereof is removed from the path of movement of the outside roll back 8]. The slide 1] is somewhat similar to the slide Ib. However, it is reciprocally guided for movement relative to the flange 26f of the case plate by means of a pin H which is carried rigidly by the slide If and is guided in its sliding movement in an elongated aperture I I 2 in the flange 26]. In this modification the slide If does not directly engage the nose I I4 of the cam means 6] but engages a second slide H6 which has a foot 'IIB engageable with the nose H4 for movement of the cam means 61 to release the rotatable bolt 4. The slide H6 is suitably carried for sliding movement on the flange 26f and is positioned adjacent the slide If intermediate a shoulder I thereof and an outturned lip I22. In this manner lost motion is provided between the slide If and the cam means 6f whereby provision is made for manufacturing tolerances in the doors which might cause the outside door unlatching handle in a series of doors to be spaced at slightly different positions from the latch. A spiral spring I28 is carried by pin H0, the outer end I30 of this spring engaging the casing for resiliently urging slide If toward its retracted position. In this modification the looking lever 106 may also be actuated by means of the lever I02 whereby movement of the lever I02 by the inner door handle in a direction opposite to that for releasing of the rotary bolt 4 acts to cause a shoulder I24 to engage a shoulder I26 formed on the underside of the lip I08 whereby the lever I06 is rotated clockwise into blocking relation with respect to the end flange I22 of the slide If. It is believed that in view of the detailed description of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 6 inclusive that the specific operation of the various other forms of the invention shown in the subsequent figures will be apparent from the foregoing description.

What is claimed and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a latch, a casing having a flange and a base, a bolt carried by said flange, a dog carried by said flange and operable to hold said bolt, rollback means comprising a slidable member carried by said flange and engageable with said dog for releasing said bolt, said member being movable in a direction transverse to the plane of said base, a locking member carried by said base and having a portion movable into the path of movement of said slidable member whereby said slidable member is held against releasing said dog, retracting means carried by said base and engageable with said dog for releasing said bolt, and an abutment carried by said retracting means engageable with said locking member for movement thereof in one direction upon movement of said retracting means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement thereof for releasing said dog.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which a member having a lost-motion connection with said roll-back means interconnects said firstnamed member and said dog.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said first-named member carries a pin receivable within an elongated aperture in said flange and 14' in which a resilient member is carried by said pin and is engageable with said casing for resiliently urging said first-named member to a retracted position.

4. In a latch, a casing having a flange and a base, a bolt carried by said flange, a dog carried by said flange and operable to hold said bolt, roll-back means comprising a slidable member carried by said flange and engageable with said dog for releasing said bolt, said member having a path of movement transverse to the plane of said base, a locking slide slidably carried by said base and having a portion movable into the path of movement of said member whereby said member is held against releasing said dog, retracting means carried by said base and engageable with said dog for releasing said bolt, and an abutment carried by said retracting means engageable with said slide for movement thereof in one direction upon movement of said retracting means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement thereof for releasing said dog.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said abutment engages one surface of a flange on said slide and in which said dog in its movement to release said bolt is engageable with the opposite surface of said flange.

6. In a latch for association with a closure member and a supporting member, the combination of a latch casing carried by one of said members and having a flange for disposition at the free edge wall of said one member and a base extending from an edge of said flange, a rotary bolt carried by said flange and releasably engageable upon rotation with a keeper carried by the other of said members, a cam pivoted to said flange and movable into a blocking position engaging said bolt to hold said bolt against rotation in a releasing direction, a rollback member carried by said flange and adapted to be actuated by a latch-releasing means carried by said one member, said rollback member having a cam-engaging portion movable in a direction transverse to the plane of said base for rotating said cam about its pivot axis out of its said blocking position, a locking member carried by said base and having a portion movable into the path of said rollback member to prevent the latter from rotating said cam, inside rollback means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said base and engageable with said cam upon movement in one direction for releasing said bolt relative to said keeper, said rollback member and said lever being connected to said cam independently of each other, and an abutment carried by said lever engageable with said locking member for movement thereof in one direction upon movement of said lever in a direction opposite to th direction of movement thereof for releasing said bolt.

7. In a latch, a casing having a flange for disposition at the free edge wall of a door and a base extending from an edge of said flange, a bolt carried by said flange, a dog carried by said flange and operable to hold said bolt, rollback means comprising a movable member carried by said flange and engageable with said dog for releasing said bolt, said member having a dogengaging portion movable in a direction transverse to the plane of said base, a locking member carried by said base and having a portion movable into the path of movement of said movable member, whereby said movable member is held against releasing said dog, retracting means carried by said base and engageable with 1'5 said dog for releasing said bolt,- and an abutmentcarried by said. retracting means engageable with said locking member for movement thereof in one direction upon movement of said retracting means in a direction opposite to the direction of movement thereof for releasing said d'og;

References Citedin the file of this patent Number Name Date; Rolph et all Jan. 20, 1942 Marple Nov. 10,1942 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 Endter Nov. '7', 1944 Cousino Jan. 15, 1946 Wagner Feb. 12;, 1946 Springer Apr. 26, 1949 Allen Aug. 30, 1949 Roethel July 10, 1951 Dingman Jan. 8,1952 Dall Jan. 15, 1952 Roethel July 22, 1952 Roethel May 5, 1-953 

